One of the challenges that many potential and capable candidates who have a relatively polished background and experience in a world outside politics is that parties like WP, SDP and even NSP either do not welcome them in readily or their history and makeup do not appeal to them.
This is where TJS and his party will appeal to them. TJS needs people quickly and they are not expected to to jump thru hoops to qualify. This would certainly be the case with WP where candidate selection is the toughest.
SDP having a chequered background is a mild statement. Every time hope surfaces, something silly pops up. Just this week Chee announced another one of his foreign trips where he will be perceive by many as living a life that does not match his rhetoric. The bankrupt with the car just does not jive with a sane individual. Just look at CSM, milking the "I take bus" angle. That's powerful. Then there is the washing the dirty linen overseas gripe.
NSP with Leonard has a mystery that has never gone way. Chris Neo was identified as mole and he killed himself over money matters. Then usual suspects will turn up just before elections and do their thing and return overseas to China, Vietnam.
So there is a very strong demand for a party that is seen as modern and ready to accept qualified individuals quickly. TJS has the network to tap it.
Don't get me wrong - I still think that TJS is an ego centric idiot that likes to harp about all the people he knows. It's just that he taking the opportunity to open a new vein where demand is there.